Availability of gluten-free analgesics and antibiotics for dental use in pharmacies of the Metropolitan Area of Asunción

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is a digestive and autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the mucosa of the small intestine in genetically susceptible individuals, triggered by the consumption of gluten, the main complex structural protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, as well as related prolamins. Diagnosis is confirmed through intestinal biopsy, with a gluten-free diet being the only treatment to manage the disease. Prescription medications provided by dentists, as well as oral hygiene products, may contain excipients that are not tolerated by celiac patients. An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with the objective of categorizing oral-administered analgesics and antibiotics considering their different active principles and administration doses used in dentistry available in the Paraguayan market based on the visual declaration of "gluten-free" on the packaging, wrapping, or written statement in the prospectus. A list of 251 commercially available medications, including analgesics and antibiotics, was compiled. Data were collected by visiting three different chain pharmacies located in the metropolitan area of Asunción, selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Out of the 251 medications on the list, 108 were found to be available in the market, of which only 31 (28.7%) drugs declared themselves to be gluten-free. The study revealed a limited number of medication options suitable for celiac patients in the Paraguayan market.